Dan Orlovsky heads west, signs one-year deal with Los Angeles Rams

Back in February, the writing was on the wall that the Detroit Lions would move on from Dan Orlovsky, closing the chapter on the quarterback’s second stint with the team in favor of the younger Jake Rudock. Then, in April, the team drafted Brad Kaaya out of the University of Miami and there was no spot left for the veteran quarterback.

In his thirties and with his alma mater UConn seemingly calling after he finished his degree, it appeared as if Orlovsky was ready to call it a day.

Instead, reports are indicating that Orlovsky has agreed to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams and will join the team before the 2017 season begins.

It remains to be seen where Orlovsky will fit on the roster. The Rams quarterback situation is confounding, but Jared Goff is the predictable starter and Orlovsky will probably compete against Sean Mannion, who is also much younger than Orlovsky. It would be a small surprise if he manages to retain a roster spot by the time the NFL season begins, but it is well within the realm of possibility given the state of the Rams.

Rams blog Turf Show Times has their own take on the situation:

The third QB slot had been toyed with earlier this year. First, the Rams signed Aaron Murray, but he was ousted in mid-May. Next up was Dylan Thompson who the Rams signed in late May after floating him as a QB3 a year ago as well. In mid-June, Thompson was out. So it’s been a month since the Rams have had someone behind Mannion on the depth chart. I’d guess Orlovsky’s experience was the main factor in bringing him in with training camp starting next Saturday.

In some related news, former Lions senior personnel executive Brian Xanders has joined the Rams in a similar role, which may have something to do with why the team decided on Orlovsky to be their camp arm: